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NOW AVAILABLE IN BARKA ALL THE WAY TO SOHAR

DESTINATION: Nakhal Fort TASTE TEST: Jungle Restaurant YOUR TOP GUIDE TO THE BEST OF OMAN, EVERY WEEK

FEB 15 - 21 2018 / ISSUE 507 • WEEKLY

THE INTERNET

& OUR KIDS PLUS!

HOW PROTECTED ARE YOUR CHILDREN ONLINE?

PEDAL PUSH

NOVEMBER 24 / ISSUE 258

BALI BECKONS

POSH & EASE

Taking Centre Stage at Sundus Rotana Discover the dramatic and warm ambience of Teatro, a perfect setting for an unforgettable night-out, offering both indoor and outdoor seating as well as a bar area. Experience a culinary show, performed by talented chefs, in an open kitchen and taste fusion flavours from Italy, India, Japan, China and Thailand all under one roof.

Teatro. Where Eastern cooking meets Western cuisine. Opening on February 19, 2018

Only at Sundus Rotana... For bookings log on to rotanatimes.com, call +968 24 511 874 or email teatro.sundus@rotana.com

EDITOR’S

NOTE COMPETITION Send in your answers for our ‘Movie contest’ and stand a chance to win two tickets of your choice from VOX.

THE BAROMETER

Welcome to Y Magazine – your top guide to the best of Oman every week.

GOING UP

TEMPERATURES IN MUSCAT Citizens are reporting that the temperatures across the capital are rising significantly. At the time of publishing, the temperature in Muscat stood at a high of 27°C and a low of 20°C.

GOING DOWN

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN OMAN More unemployed Omanis are being hired by private companies than ever before. The Oman News Agency reported that 9,000 Omanis availed jobs with private firms over the last two months.

Fast forward H

ow can you teach your children to use the internet safely? It’s a question I’ve been thinking about a lot. Our children know the internet is a magical entity capable of answering obscure questions; providing printable templates of pretty much any animal to colour in; and serving up endlessly repeatable videos and loom band tutorials. What they don’t know is anything about viruses, online privacy, phishing, social networking etiquette, and any other internet safety and/or security issue you can think of. Teaching them about this now and in the future should be our job, and the challenge of getting it right is intimidating. But then there’s a whole industry of internet safety and security experts, many of whom have children of their own, and have to face the same task of rearing safe, responsible internet citizens. The advice that these people are giving their own kids should be top-drawer, so what is it? I put a call out, and was overwhelmed by the responses. So, this week, our cover story talks about our children’s safety online. How do we keep our children safe online? Read what our experts have to say. Happy reading!

THIS WEEK… This week, Y headed to the Muscat Festival to soak in the fervor and action at the Al Amerat Park, tried out Asian cuisine at the Jungle Restaurant and also explored the villages in Suhar.

Ways to get your Y fix Online: Visit y-oman.com for even more inspiration. Smart device: Catch up with Y on the go by scanning the QR code below

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EDITOR IN CHIEF Sayyida Iman bint Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi SENIOR ONLINE EDITOR Nishad Padiyarath ART DIRECTOR Matthew Herbst

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contents

FEBRUARY 15 - 21 2018

Your Oman

This Week

08 Voice Of Oman Sonia Ambrosio 10 News Oman to stop online tourist licence services 12 News PDO inaugurates 1GW solar power plant in Oman

Holi Time Join the crowds and indulge in an evening of fun and frolic at the ‘Festival of Colours’.

19 Movies Gulabjaam takes audience by storm in Oman

Features 20

Predators on the prowl Are you aware of the dangers that lurk within the internet? We talk to experts to find out how children are affected by the digital revolution.

Ping-Pong dipolmacy Oman’s entry into the map of international table tennis is changing the face of the nation.

Food and Drink 44 Food Feature Juicy treats

Cars and Adventures 32 Destination Nakhal Fort 34 First Drive Lincoln MKZ 38 Y-Fi Innovative tech

Health and Beauty 38 Fashion Be easy 41 Health Take control of depression

46 Taste Test The Jungle Restaurant

NEXT ISSUE... FEATURES / COFFEE WITH Y / NEWS / MOVIES / EVENTS / BEAUTY / DESTINATION / TRAVEL / FASHION / FIRST DRIVE

THE PORTRAIT BY A NATION JUDGES ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION THAT IS HAPPY, PROMISING AND YET PUZZLING. CHOOSING THE BEST IS BECOMING TOUGHER THAN ANYBODY THOUGHT

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FEB 15 - 21 / ISSUE 507

Supporting Partner

t has been a long wait, but it is now time to enter the last stage of Y’s Portrait By A Nation art competition: The Grand Finale. The event – the largest of its kind in the country – was conducted to commemorate and celebrate the 47th National Day of Oman. We’re also cordially inviting all the selected students and their parents to be present at the Sheraton Oman Hotel on the 19th of February at 6pm to find out who will be taking home the attractive prizes. It was a difficult task to scour through thousands of paintings to shortlist the best for an entry to the final round – but our judges carefully whittled the best 47 paintings – and we’ve been publishing the list of finalists in the magazine over the last few weeks. Of course, there’s no denying that the selection process was hard; every contestant had his or her strong suite that set them aside

Choosing from 2,300 had been a daunting task but now we want you to come and witness the finale in action. And who knows, maybe it'll be your child who takes home the prizes

from the rest. Just to give you an idea, however, the competition witnessed a record 2,300 participants and was held at the Muscat Grand Mall in Baushar, over the National Day weekend. The three winners will be receiving gifts worth RO3,150. This year’s competition was powered by FRiENDi, and in association with sponsors Muscat Grand Mall, PUCK, IDdesign and Finland Eye Center. eXtra was the electronics sponsor for the event. “The excitement is at an all-time high as we enter the Grand Finale of our premier art competition”, said Y’s editorial head, Nishad Padiyarath. “We were astonishing by some of the paintings and it was a tough job to select the 47 finalists. But we’ve done it, and we have spend as much time to get it right. “Choosing from 2,300 had been a daunting task but now we want you to come and witness the finale in action. And who knows, maybe it’ll be your child who takes home the prize. “I am proud to say that this was the biggest art contest organised by Y Magazine. The response from the students participating in this competition was so overwhelming. We had the highest number of entries compared with that of the previous years and more than 200 spot registrations at the venue. This shows the popularity of this competition,” he added. ■

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THE VOICE OF OMAN WHY ARE WE HOPELESSLY HOOKED TO THE SEEMINGLY INFINITE HEAP OF SANDS AND ROCKS? SONIA AMBROSIO DELIBERATES ON THE DESERT CHARMS

correspondence DEBATE OF THE WEEK WE ASKED: According to the new traffic law, women will be allowed to drive taxis in Oman starting from March 1. What do you think about the move? MOHAN ANANDAN

ne can always find a reason to take a trip to the desert. There is a thrilling emotion to be out there where the eye and the heart can rest. The desert with its mysterious landscape is not as empty as it looks. It is filled with many wonders: trees grow out of rocks, mountains can give eerie feelings; small delicate flowers cover patches of desert sands and rocky terrain. Despite the harsh conditions, the flora is graceful, fragile and exquisite. The few animals and plants adapted to the dry desert show that life in a merciless clime has its own attractions. And we love to venture, knowing that despite the perils, we are safe. Surely, human exploitation and perhaps climate change can have an impact on plants and animals. But despite the awareness of the human effect, I am still attracted by the mystical sense of silence, unlimited freedom and how minuscule we are in the natural world. Every time I need a familiar environment, a little non-sense chat or just be looked after, I go home — in Sharqia. In the afternoon chats, I learned that some 10 desert camps are providing jobs to drivers around the region. Any particular camp can hire between 18 to 40 drivers and their cars on a single weekend during the high season. These drivers can make up to RO800 on top of their regular monthly salaries. The bliss for the locals can last up to a few months until camps close during the summer time. It’s inspiring to learn about the local people’s life and culture. The starry or moonlit nights are an open invitation to always return. But what really makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well or a stream of crystalline water.

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This will certainly bring smiles on female passengers who will feel more comfortable and secured to use public transport which will see an increased use of taxis by them. Besides, this initiative will add another feather to Oman’s evolving public transport system and would also add to women empowerment initiatives. This would also be yet another achievement to showcase from a tourism promotion point of view.

SHAILLY SINGH

Another good initiative by the government needed for a progressive society that offers equal rights and opportunities for both genders. With women-driven cabs around, more women passengers than now will use public transport. Safety, honesty and friendly approach of ladies would make an attractive package for tourist too.

PARUL JAIN

AZIZ SHARFUNNISHA

Women can become excellent drivers as long as they have the courage to challenge traditional gender roles and believe in themselves to achieve success. In fact, given their cautious nature, women are more careful drivers than men. Women will feel free to travel in a taxi with a lady driver than a male one.

SWATI KOTKAR-SHENDE

Former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has said “there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women”. Women drivers will be welcomed wholeheartedly by the womenfolk here. If I am travelling alone, I will feel safer in a taxi driven by a woman. I could send my daughter tension-free for extra class with a woman taxi driver. People with gender biases consider women drivers as killers behind the wheel. They think women have weak manoeuvring skills and a poor sense of direction. Stigmatisation of women

WRITE TO US AND YOU COULD WIN

as bad drivers is a reflection of deep-rooted male chauvinism. Such prejudice not only kills women’s enthusiasm but also belittles their social stature, which is not conducive to harmonious development of society. With motivation and determination women can be excellent drivers. Women are cautious by nature so there will be reduced risk of accidents. The new traffic law will help break gender stereotypes and will create fresh opportunities for women to explore their potential. Women not only will become independent but also will boost tourism in Oman. Don’t be a woman that needs a man, but be a woman a man needs.

The news brings a sigh of relief from many lady commuters. It’s a good move for empowering women and their economic wellbeing. Women will feel safer in vehicles driven by women. It will be good especially for school kids, late night office workers and university students attending late evening lectures. Of course it will help improve public transportation and boost tourism.

JASON FELIX NORONHA

Another step towards addressing gender bias and empowering women. The move would be welcomed with broad smiles by many women who are hesitant to ride alone in male-driven cabs. I am confident that women taxi drivers are up for the task and ready to

Dinner for two at Le Jardin restaurant

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NARENDRA SINGH

A welcome step in many ways. First of all, it gives women a fair opportunity to enter a male-dominated area till now and a good chance to work and earn money. This comes as a boon for women passengers. Women are more courteous, caring and soft spoken than men, so they will help improve the travel options for the general public and tourists. We appreciate the ROP for this decision.

ALI SAIF AL RAHBI

I salute the government and the ROP for this magnificent idea. I don’t mind seeing lady taxi drivers as long as they are brave enough and cautious on the road. Many women — Omanis, expatriates and tourists — will prefer to travel in female-driven taxis. Women have been playing their part well in business and other sectors such as hotel and restaurant and health, and I think it’s time Oman encouraged women empowerment in the public transportation network. The Sultanate will set a good example for other countries in the GCC.

SHAILSUMAN SINGH

Great news for women passengers, especially those who use taxis for long-distance travel and night travel, and a great opportunity for self-employment for Omani ladies. A firm thumbs up for the ROP.

New Debate: The use of tobacco is on the rise in Oman and the Ministry of Health is planning to double the tax on it. Do you think this will help reduce the usage?

Share your view with us and you could be in with a chance of winning dinner for two.

THROUGH YOUR EYES

THIS IS YOUR SPOT! Just send us your picture with Y Magazine or pose with our photographer and we will publish it on this page

Send it to: info@y-oman.com

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Y Magazine reader Roshni Krishnan shot this picture in Al Ghubra using her iPhone 6.

Send your photo to editor@y-oman.com to be featured in our new section, Through Your Eyes. Include where it was taken, your name and a few details about your photograph, such as the camera used.

PHOTO: Roshni Krishnan

FEB 15 - 21 / ISSUE 507

YOUR

OMAN O

OMAN TO STOP ONLINE

TOURIST LICENCE SERVICES

man’s Ministry of Tourism has announced that all electronic tourism licence services will be discontinued by February 25 in an effort to promote the e-government system. “The Ministry of Tourism would like to inform all licensed hotel and tourist establishments and companies that it is about to integrate the tourist licensing system with the Invest Easy Portal, which will be launched on March 15, 2018,” said the ministry. The ministry added: “Applications for renewal of services, new applications for tourist licences and all other electronic tourism licence services will be discontinued from February 25. New tourism licence applications and renewal applications will be launched through Invest Easy Portal. “This comes within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to streamline and improve services procedures it provides to activate the e-government system and facility for investors.”

CHINA SUPREME AT OMAN JUNIOR

& CADET OPEN

CHILD PREDATOR JAILED IN OMAN

arents can now sleep in peace, as the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has successfully apprehended a citizen who sexually abused a 13-year-old child in Al Buraimi. The news was revealed by the ROP. An official source from Buraimi police said that “a citizen accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old child, has been arrested”. The source added that “the accused was able to lure the child through a means of social communication (social media) and later assaulted the child”.

JAIL AND FINE FOR STORING RICE

IN UNSUITABLE CONTAINERS

hinese paddlers have won the majority of the titles on offer as the curtain has come down on the inaugural Oman Junior and Cadet Open at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The championships, the first ITTF Premium Junior Circuit event to be organised in the Sultanate, concluded on Sunday with Minister of Sports Affairs Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardhouf Al Saadi presiding over a colourful closing ceremony. The ceremony was also attended by Khalil Al Mahanadi, vicechairman of International Table Tennis Federation, and Oman Table Tennis Committee chief Abdullah bin Mohammed Ba Mukhalif. After claiming the team titles on Saturday, the Chinese dominated the individual categories, with Licen Yuan leading the way winning the junior boys’ gold.

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f you’re a shopkeeper, you may want to rethink storing all perishable consumables in unsuitable containers. Just this week, one person has been sentenced to three months in prison apart from being charged a fine of RO3,000 for storing rice in a cabin containing chemicals, announced the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP). The sentencing comes after the preliminary court in Barka handed a verdict against the defendant accused of violating the Consumer Protection Law issued by Royal Decree No. 66/2014.

In a statement to the media, the PACP said: “The judgement was based on field visits by inspectors to shops around the areas. It was noted that there were quantities of rice in closed cabins, including a cupboard with a sticker containing a chemical to kill insects.” PACP immediately took the necessary action by addressing the Public Prosecution to obtain a court order to examine the rice and insecticide used. “The competent authorities were informed of the presence of impurities and physical contaminants in the rice,” added PACP. After obtaining evidence of a violation of the Consumer Protection law, the file was forwarded to the authorised court, which then issued a verdict condemning the accused of trading corrupt and unauthorised goods along with a lack of commitment to transparency and credibility. All harmful goods were seized.

YOUR

OMAN

PDO INAUGURATES 1GW SOLAR POWER PLANT IN OMAN

etroleum Development Oman (PDO) has opened the concentrated solar power facility Miraahon, expected to be one of the world’s largest solar power plants. Built and operated by GlassPoint, the 1GW project is expected to deliver 6,000 tonnes of steam per day for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) at Amal West oilfield in southern Oman when it’s fully completed. “It’s been an incredible journey from a 7MW pilot project to what we have here now. We are now able to displace natural gas to areas of more added value. This project is a win-win for PDO, GlassPoint and the government of Oman. It puts Oman on the global renewable energy map,” Raoul Restucci, Managing Director at PDO, said during the ceremony on Monday. The first phase of construction of four blocks has been completed. It has a total capacity of over 100MW and will deliver 660 tonnes of steam per day. The project is on track to deliver an additional eight blocks by early 2019. The launch also marked the inauguration of the Miraah visitor centre for people from around the world who would like to know more about the project and its technology. GlassPoint’s solar technology was specifically designed to harness the sun’s energy to generate the steam required for thermal EOR, seamlessly integrating into existing oilfield operations. The natural gas saved by using GlassPoint’s technology can be exported or directed toward higher-value applications such as power generation or industrial development.

MORE THAN 800,000 VISITED MUSCAT FESTIVAL THIS YEAR

lose to 900,000 people have visited the Muscat Festival this year, according to the latest data from Muscat Municipality (MM). “A total of 877,177 have visited the Muscat Festival 2018 during the period from January 18 to February 10,” Muscat Municipality said. The festival had an array of diverse activities for both locals and visitors from across the region. This year, organisers brought back a number of popular attractions, including the Heritage Village that gave people a peek into the life of ancient Omanis and their practices. Another highlight was the Bedouin Village where people from the Sharqiyah region shared the beauty of their celebrated traditions. Thrilling rides, a global exhibition, magic shows, traditional dances, live performances, etc. attracted hordes of people. 012

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YOUR

MODI IN OMAN

OMAN

PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA, NARENDRA MODI, VISITED THE SULTANATE THIS WEEK. HERE, HIS MAJESTY SULTAN QABOOS BIN SAID GREETED HIM AT BAIT AL BARAKAH. THEY REVIEWED THE STRONG RELATIONS BETWEEN OMAN AND INDIA AND DISCUSSED WAYS TO ENHANCE TIES FOR FURTHER PROGRESS, DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY.

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GALLERY

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015

YOUR

REPUBLIC DAY

OMAN

A TEAM OF 104 STUDENTS AND NINE TEACHERS OF INDIAN SCHOOL DARSAIT WITNESSED THE 69TH REPUBLIC DAY PARADE AT RAJPATH ON 26TH JANUARY 2018, AND THE COMPLETE DRESS REHEARSAL OF ‘BEATING THE RETREAT’ AT VIJAY CHOWK ON 28TH JANUARY 2018.

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Photo: Shaquel Al Balushi

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspiration: Life is either an adventure or nothing at all.

In a new series, we look for inspiration from a variety of influences around Oman, including its people, places and wildlife.

MORNING DRAMA

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE There’s no better way to while away your weekend than indulge in a morning of fun and drama. So, head to Al Falaj Hotel next week for the ‘Fun-Filled Hilarious Gujarati Drama’, which is hosted by the Muscat Gujarati Samaj. The drama will be directed and acted by Gujarati comedy legend Siddharth Randeria. Doors to the event will open at 6:30am and the event is expected to conclude by 9:30am. For more details, you can contact the Muscat Gujarati Samaj on Facebook.

FEB 22 MAR 3 Don’t miss out on an opportunity to try out some of Turkey’s finest foods at the Turkish Food Festival 2018. The food fest will be hosted at the Park Inn Muscat Hotel and is in collaboration with Turkish Airways. Albeit, it’s not just about the food. You can also partake in the music and other fun activities, and also a raffle draw. Tickets will cost RO15 per person and the event is scheduled to commence at 7pm. For more information or to make reservations, contact: 2450 7888 or visit parkinn.com/hotel-muscat

FEB 16

WEEK FEB

WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO SEE. WHAT TO HEAR.

MAR

Holi is fast approaching and that means more Indians will be homesick than ever. But, don’t worry, as you can spend the day celebrating the ‘Festival of Colours’ with the crowds in Muscat. The exuberant festival, which is open to residents of all nationalities, will be packed with international music, dance and, of course, the smearing of organic coloured powders on one another. The venue of the event is yet to be announced but the organisers from Axis Events say that it will be the biggest party of its kind in Oman. You can purchase tickets from tickets. virginmegastore.me. For more details you can contact 9779 8111.

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HOLI TIME

THIS

TURKISH DELIGHTS

MAR

MOVIES MOVIES FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIMES, GO TO: City Cinema: citycinemaoman.net Al Bahja Cinema: albahjacinema.net VOX Cinemas: oman.voxcinemas.com Star Cinema: Tel +968 24791641

Black Panther Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o

ven if it had nothing else going for it, Black Panther would still be the best-looking Marvel movie yet. Supersaturated with vivid afro-futurism and as bold and riotous as a rack of dashiki print shirts, it looks like a particularly excitable Sun Ra album cover. Fortunately, the film doesn’t trade on looks alone. The score, by Ludwig Göransson and Kendrick Lamar, combines primal beats with the growling purr of a pack of big cats. Cannily, and unusually for a Marvel picture, Black Panther unfolds in a pretty much self-contained world. There are no smirking cameos from the likes of Tony Stark. The closest we get to acknowledging the Marvel universe is a reference to the death of the father of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), an event that happened in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, and a bad guy who first popped up in Avengers: Age of Ultron. T’Challa inherits the throne of Wakanda, the secretive techtropolis that has concealed itself from the rest of the world. And he assumes the mantle of Black Panther, complete with an impenetrable battle suit engineered by his genius kid sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright, who gets to play with most of the best lines as well as all the cool kit). Supporting T’Challa is Wakanda’s top warrior, Okoye (Danai Gurira), lethal with a spear but who also, in one gif-friendly shot, does an impressive amount of damage by hurling her wig. Peril comes from Andy Serkis, great fun as Ulysses Klaue, a piratical South African with a grin that looks

as though he chews lightbulbs for breakfast. Plus there is a challenger to the throne: Erik Killmonger (Michael B Jordan) is the cousin that T’Challa never knew he had. And this is a weak point – Erik’s backstory doesn’t seem to fully explain the frothing hate machine he becomes. The film also falls into the traditional Marvel thirdact trap: for all the attack rhinos and the tribal factionalism, it’s still just a big, noisy CGI battle climax. - The Guardian Oman release: February 15

Early Man Cast: Maisie Williams, Tom Hiddleston and Eddie Redmayne

to date, Aardman fuses the spectacle of One Million Years BC with the innocent charm of Gregory’s Girl to conjure a film that director Nick Park describes as “Gladiator meets Dodgeball”. Unsurprisingly, it’s a hoot. Having co-directed Chicken Run and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit with Peter Lord and Steve Box respectively, multiple Oscarwinner Park here takes his first solodirector credit on a full-length feature. As you’d expect from the creator of Creature Comforts and A Close Shave, Early Man provides a crowd-pleasing cocktail of pathos and pratfalls. The voice cast are smashing, with supporting turns from the likes of Gina Yashere, Johnny Vegas, Richard Ayoade and Miriam Margolyes adding depth and diversity to the characters, and Rob Brydon doing sterling work as a parroting voice message service, and as punning football pundits Bryan and Brian. The Guardian

Oman release: February 15

Shikkari Shambhu Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Shivada Nair and Vishnu Unnikrishnan

Oman release: February 15

Gulabjaam Cast: Sonali Kulkarni, Siddharth Chandekar and Madhura Deshpande

Aditya is a young Maharashtrian man from London who comes to Pune to find someone who would teach him traditional Maharashtrian cooking. His aim is to open a Marathi restaurant in London.

Watching an Aardman animation is like taking a potted tour of the history of cinema and the humour of Britain. From the sinister penguin of The Wrong Trousers, who was based on Mrs Danvers from Hitchcock’s Rebecca, to end-of-the-pier sight gags about the Hello!-style Ay-Up! magazine in the Hammer-influenced The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Bristol’s finest have forged a distinctive brand of film-making, which is as slyly cine-literate as it is sublimely silly. Now, with its most ambitious project

In search of a perfect guru, he meets eccentric Radha, a woman who makes lunch boxes for the students and working men in her area. Aditya needs to pass many tests before Radha would accept him as a student. But once she starts teaching him, a new path of life opens for Aditya. They both become good friends and in this journey together their complex and wonderful pasts open up. Aditya realises that cooking is the most pure form of loving and caring for someone.

Shikkari Shambu is a fun ride, an entertainer that revolves around two young men who claim to be hunters. Peeli and his jolly gang of friends masquerade as tiger hunters to gain acceptance in a village. What follows is a series of comedies which form the crux of the movie when the entire village is terrorised by the news of a tiger on the loose. Oman release: February 15

N WI

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION Who is the director of Black Panther? LAST WEEK’S WINNER Shilpa Raj

WIN FREE MOVIE TICKETS! Read our movie section and answer the question to stand a chance to win two tickets to watch movies of your choice! Send your answers to info@y-oman. com, along with your contact information. Tickets must be collected from Y’s Seeb offices in person only. For the rest of the terms and conditions, see voucher.

FEB 15 - 21 / ISSUE 507

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ON THE PROWL An Omani teenager was lucky to fight off a predator, but cyber beasts are happy that more children are online unmonitored. Alvin Thomas and Hasan al Lawati discuss how parents could save their kids

echnology is an ever-evolving sphere and the internet is in the forefront of all progressions in the vast field. As a matter of fact, devoid of the internet, everything from trade, forex and entertainment to online schooling and research, and even social connections would break down and send today’s world spiralling into a dark abyss – quite literally. Microsoft founder Bill Gates once said: “The internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” Little did he know back then that the internet would soon take over the people of all ages. Today, the age limit to visit Facebook, for instance, is a mere 13 years; and most websites are easily accessible by everyone – including children – daily. All one requires is a smartphone and an internet connection – and the world is then at their fingertips. While all of this translates to children picking up on technology at a fast rate and at a young age, it also spells

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doom for a growing number of children who are falling victim to what is now becoming a common threat across the world: online predators. In layman’s terms, an online predator is someone who uses the internet, cellphone, or other digital devices to exploit vulnerable adolescents for abusive purposes. And more children are falling into the traps set by predators online. Recent statistics by Ofcom – a communications regulating company – reveals that a staggering 67 per cent of children in the 5 to15 age group use the internet daily. It means that more children access the internet than playing video games on consoles. What’s more worrying is that 62 per cent of kids in the age group also access the internet through smartphones, much of which is unsupervised by parents or elders. While the statistics may come as no surprise, what one must keep in mind is that as of January 2017 there were more than 1.8 billion websites on the internet. The number has substantially grown since.

All of this means that the number of children falling prey is higher than ever before – and something must be done to protect them. According to Tariq al Barwani, the founder of Knowledge Oman, this begins with raising KIDS OF awareness among parents. “Parents are TODAY ARE responsible for the online habits of their SO SMART children,” he says. AND THEY “If you ask me if children are safe online, CAN DO ANYTHING I would say that it depends on the usage. For THEY WANT. SO, IT’S example, if I use my phone while driving, VERY CRUCIAL THAT then the chance of me having an accident PARENTS TAKE TIME will be increased. This is also the case online: TO ACTUALLY The internet is like an MONITOR encyclopedia and if you THEIR CHILD’S search for something, you BEHAVIOUR will get it. ONLINE. “And this is how one can BLOCK stumble on bad content WEBSITES online,” he remarks, adding USING AN that “education is key to APPLICATION, keep the children safe on IF NEED BE the internet. You need to tell the kids what is right and what is wrong; maybe even explain why they mustn’t go somewhere that they aren’t supposed to.” He’s right. An investigation we conducted led us to a report that about 15 per cent of all websites on the internet is intended explicitly for adults. Worryingly, a study by Shared Hope International, a welfare organisation, stated that 42.1 per cent of kids they interviewed admitted they had seen online porn. One in 16 has been exposed to hardcore pornography. Also, one in 12 confessed to having exchanged messages with explicit content to other people, while one in 25 sent graphic photos of themselves. While it is important to teach adolescents the need to limit personal information shared online, the reality is that they do connect with people. And it only takes one click to fall into the wrong habitat. Online Safety Site, a website that focuses on the safety

of internet users, states that 91 per cent of all teens post photos of themselves online. A major factor involved in this rise is the acceptance of Instagram. A majority of teens – 58 per cent – do not think posting photos or other personal info on social networking sites is unsafe. To them we say: Read the news. Some of the news headlines that was published online in 2017 goes like this: ‘1 in 4 children have experienced something upsetting on this social networking site’ and ‘Internet Watch Foundation identifies over 57,000 URLs containing child abuse images’. Little wonder then that there were over 12,000 counselling sessions with young people who talked to Childline about online issues in 2016 and one in three children have been a victim of cyber bullying. Staggeringly, there were over 2,100 counselling sessions with young people who talked to Childline about online child sexual exploitation (CSE) in 2016. Meanwhile, in the Sultanate, the Information Technology Authority (ITA) stopped around 1.7 million cyber attacks in 2016. The latest statistics are being checked and verified by the ITA for release. More alarming, however, is that in 2016, 6,416 spyware and 7,824 viruses were found and quarantined. Talking to Y about this subject, Leena Francis, the principal of Indian School al Seeb, says: “When we tackle online safety for children, we must split it into two age categories – 3 to 13 and 13 to 19. “Then we must see how this affects the children. It all begins with health. Continuous usage of internet through a computer or a smartphone can have detrimental effects on health. A child can have vision problems or their grey matter in the brain can be damaged. While these are grave concerns, another worry is the mental health of the child.” The teacher for more than two decades then adds: “The kids in the first category are in a development phase and they require time to play outside, study and with their families. Else, it’ll cause problems as they grow up. “Next is parental influence on the kids. There’s no doubt that children look up to their parents, and

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Leena Francis Principal of Indian School Al Seeb sometimes parents themselves are engrossed in their smartphones or have very less time to engage with their kids. In such cases, they may end up gifting a smartphone to their child to make them happy. “But you don’t know what they are doing or which sites they are visiting, because, you know, you don’t have the time.” She then asserts in a deep tone: “Parents are key to keeping their kids safe from explicit websites. Parental guidance is a good means of helping children improve their knowledge. By keeping track of what children are doing – that is, by monitoring access to sites or by sitting with them – we can help them enhance their information base. This can be done by letting them access informative websites that can visually help them learn.” The real challenge, according to Leena, is when children reach their teenage years. “This when it becomes a greater challenge. The child will not appreciate monitoring and will want their freedom. So, the parents will need to be smarter in their approach. She advises parents to check what the child has been involved in after they have used the computer or phone – and then block the 022

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explicit websites. “While all of this may be a hassle, what I have learnt in my years of teaching is that this can be averted to an extent by teaching the child about certain values and what they mustn’t do. If this is inculcated in the child from a very young age, then they will most likely take care by themselves,” she adds. During our extended conversation, Tariq also stresses the importance of parents in how the child behaves online. “Kids of today are so smart and they can do anything they want. So, it’s very crucial that parents take time to actually monitor their child’s behaviour online. Block websites using an application, if need be,” he advises. Some of the best software programs of today, as per PC Magazine, to monitor and control devices are: Kaspersky Safe Kids, Qustodio, Net Nanny, Symantec Norton Family Premier, and SafeDNS. One of these will only set you back approximately RO16. Tariq then adds: “A child needn’t be necessarily visiting a website or opening up an application to stumble upon something or someone illegal or explicit. It can be through peers; it is what drives a lot of kids into trouble today. “Kids also grasp very fast, and just a single visit can trigger more. So, make sure you use a reliable application to configure and filter out content on your computers. And it’s not just computers, to be honest. You need to configure your smart

TV, smartphones and so on, too.” But even then, all of this wouldn’t have protected the innocence of a young Omani boy (who wished not to be named) who turns 16 this year. In an earlier interview with Y, the teenager said he had fallen victim to a predator through an online game: “It all started when I was playing the game Clash of Clans on my smartphone. I met a very nice girl who claimed that she was 19 years in the chat room of the game. “We got very close, and for me that was my first such experience. I was only 15 years old at that time. It was all very innocent at first, but as time went by, I was asked to send compromising photos of myself.” After a bit of hesitation, the young boy sent her what she had requested. He said she had immediately responded to his message, but in a different tone. “It was like she was waiting for it,” he said, adding that the person had then begun threatening him. “She said she would send my photos to all my friends. She said I had to pay her in online currency if she were to delete the photos. I couldn’t even face anyone. It went on like this for a week. But then I couldn’t take it anymore and so I decided to come clean with my

father. I told him everything, and he took my phone, and sent the Clash of Clans developers, Supercell, a screenshot of all the chats. And surprisingly, they came back to us saying that they had removed the user from the game, and that I would have to report to Google directly since I sent all my photos via Gmail.” They contacted Gmail through support.google.com, whose team immediately came to their rescue. He believes that the lady has been put behind bars as no other damage occurred. This goes to show that something as innocent as an online game can be used by online predators to attack children. We are also

witnessing a sharp increase in reports of children coming close to meeting predators on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, or chat-based websites such as 4Chan and Reddit; and even videosharing websites such as YouTube. For instance, innocent searches on YouTube have been reported to return explicit videos. Also worrying is how many ‘child-friendly’ applications on Google Play have been known to contain inappropriate content. One particular application titled the ‘Call Blaze and The Monster Machines 2018’, which was available for download on Google Play, reportedly played disturbing messages. It started like this: “Hi kids, I’m your new friend Happy Slappy, or whatever you want me to be called. You see I want to play with you kiddo, maybe we could perform some fun games together.” But it concluded by saying: “What’s this hogwash. You look afraid. Is it this knife in my whirly twirly hands. Making you a little nervous ha (sic). “That’s all right ‘cause (sic) this knife is gonna (sic) improve your look when it’s sticking right out of you.” This isn’t the first time a game has been reported as inappropriate for kids online. Russian-origin ‘Blue Whale Game’ is known to have claimed over 130 teen deaths in Russia alone. The game reportedly sets harmful challenges to kids under the age of 15 – or the administrator will threaten to kill family members or reveal other information. Don’t for a second think that it hasn’t affected the region. Just last week, it took the life of one Jordanian child. Is there a way by which we can forestall such occurrences? The answer to that, Tariq says, is simple: “Education.” “We need to go a long way to reach out to children and parents – and educate them about these negative things on the internet. But for that we’ll need schools to begin awareness campaigns and students must be taught about it in computer labs. Principal Leena is moving forward with a plan to launch a new campaign in her school. “To begin with, I’m planning a campaign for parents so they are aware of what must be done at homes to protect their children. They are the first people that must be approached by the kids if they fall into a trap. “Then we need to teach the students. They don’t need to be shy to come forward and tell us what they saw. If they cannot reveal it to their parents, then we are here to listen to their concerns. “We also have counsellors who can really help them with this so that the children can recover safely and continue with their lives as normal human beings,” she tells us. And as Tariq rightly points out: “The internet is not a horrible place; it has opened up the world and made it a bigger place. All we need to do is incorporate a bit of discipline so that everything remains in order.” ■

BABYSAM SAAMUEL KUTTY, EXPLAINS THE CYBER RISKS BEING FACED BY CHILDREN AND THE ROLE PARENTS NEED TO PLAY DO YOU THINK THE KIDS OF TODAY ARE SAFE ONLINE?

The kids of today are digital natives as against the previous generation of millennials who were digital pioneers. So, they feel at home with the internet or digital media. Nevertheless, cyber crimes are an increasing reality and, therefore, cyber security is a valid concern. But in my opinion, the internet and technological safety is and should be everyone’s concern, given that in this era of accelerated technological advances, all of us are learning together to safely navigate the digital sphere. I believe children of today are as vulnerable online as they are offline. The same precautionary measures that are applicable in real life would be applicable in e-life too, in addition to technology specific ones. These include staying away from strangers, being courteous, reporting to parents anything they find offensive or disturbing, etc. Online bullying is an increasing concern. There have been many global instances where children couldn’t cope with such kind of bullying, sometimes even from a mob, and have resorted to ending their lives.

HOW DO WE KEEP CHILDREN SAFE ON THE INTERNET?

Apart from the obvious risks to personal safety and security, the internet is also more or less a permanent record of our online interactions. It is extremely hard, if not impossible, to eliminate our online pasts. The millennials are slowly learning the impact of their online indiscretions. The solution is definitely not to alienate children from technology. Despite the risks, they would still require it for their personal and academic needs. The trick is in balancing controls and freedom. There are practical steps that parents could take such as setting up parental controls, firewalls, privacy settings, password protection of devices, routers, blocking unsafe websites, enabling safebrowsing through safe-search features in mainstream browsers or through specific child-friendly browsers, limiting internet time, restricting social media networks, etc. Along with these, regular monitoring is necessary. There are apps that let parents receive alerts for specific

BabySam Saamuel Kutty, information technology expert (management), strategic consultant, business mentor and member of the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman activities. The most important step is to create awareness and conversations around the risks involved, especially concerning the protection of their privacy. The internet itself provides the answers to the questions it poses. There are plenty of resources and short courses available online intended for parents and children alike that teach them everything they need to know about personal cyber security. According to me, an even larger threat is from the internet-enabled devices such wearables, smart home devices such as smart televisions and other artificial intelligence devices. There are even internet-enabled toys usually with voice and/or image recognition. Because these are thought to be safe and unobtrusive, the risks they pose may not be even apparent to us, as opposed to conventional devices such as phones or tablets.

ARE PARENTS VIGILANT IN PROTECTING THE KIDS?

There is definitely a certain degree of awareness. However, more often than not, the proactive actions that could be taken are bypassed in favour of convenience. I would like to reiterate that as digital, artificial intelligence, robotics and telecom advances faster than ever before, we as adults and parents must keep up with the risks involved and the ways and means to overcome them. It is also the responsibility of parents to ensure that the children of today become better cyber citizens, not just in terms of their safety but also their behaviour towards others.

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British schoolteacher braves dust and gusty winds to break a world record, pedalling from Muscat to Salalah in less than 48 hours. Hasan Al Lawati reports on the pedal push

PEDDLE

POWER

It makes my blood saltier so I can absorb more water so if there is more water in me when I start...it makes it easier

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British national Jonathan Shubert has made history, cycling from Muscat to Salalah in less than 48 to break a world record. The science teacher, who has been working in the Sultanate for three years, pedalled 1,300km in less than two days. His daring adventure that successfully ended on Tuesday started in the early morning hours of Sunday. It was cold and dark when Shubert arrived at the National Museum in Muttrah, fuelled by salt bicarbonate soda and passion to achieve the seemingly impossible. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It makes my blood saltier so I can absorb more water so if there is more water in me when I start...it makes it easier,â&#x20AC;? he told the Y magazine.

Moments later the science teacher was on his mission to cycle from the north (Muscat) to the south (Salalah), crossing around 1,300km of cliffs and highlands. On Tuesday, February 13, the British national successfully set a new world record, lowering the existing mark of six days to under 48 hours. He was to take only one 10-minute break every six hours. When I arrived at the starting point in Muttrah on Sunday (February 11), the cyclists accompanying Shubert were fixing reflective tape on their bikes. Asked about his preparation for the adventure, Shubert said: “I am a teacher so I can’t use the time of the week. During weekends I cycle to Nizwa and explore other parts of Oman for long hours to build endurance.” With back-to-back training on Fridays and Saturdays, in addition to “faster and harder” preparations during some week days with his Omani friends, Shubert primed for the challenge putting in 18 hours a week. One of the main factors that concern cyclists is the weather. Before the start Shubert said he had

checked with the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA). “There will be some fog in Duqm. Otherwise, it’s expected to be quite favourable. But one of the issues is

Attempting such a feat in the Middle East poses added challenges that I have never had to deal with before; most notably, coping with heat and dehydration, but also the dust and its effect on my respiratory system

the dust. After eight hours you will start to feel it in your lungs because of heavy breathing,” he explained. According to his team members, the weather was too windy and challenging, unlike expected. In his interview with the adventure magazine ub-cool before the trip, he had said: “I have lived and worked in Oman for three years; I love the country, I love the people. So, firstly, I’m already here; secondly, the road infrastructure and the topography of the country is amazing; and, thirdly, as a resident of Oman, I feel compelled to do something to assist with problems in the region, however small my contribution. “Attempting such a feat in the Middle East poses added challenges that I have never had to deal with before; most notably, coping with heat and dehydration, but also the dust and its effect on my respiratory system.” Shubert is no stranger to such challenges, though. Between March 2013 and March 2014, he embarked on an unassisted, 30,000km circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle, passing through 29 countries and three continents, braving the tough tests posed by climate and terrain. ■

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DIPLOMACY Over 100 players from 19 countries came down to Muscat to play table tennis. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just about Oman trying to win the matches but about the nation winning the hearts. Alvin Thomas explores the drives

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able tennis or ping pong: call it whatever you may like, but its popularity is off the roof here in Oman. Little wonder then that the young students from the Sultanate partaking in the match against their rivals from 19 other countries are vocal about each point they score against their opponents, in the 2018 Oman Junior & Cadet Open ITTF Premium Junior Circuit, at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Baushar. Each point is cheered on by the viewers and the kids are stoked about how close the match is. Alas, luck isn’t on their side and they must move over for the next contenders from the neighbouring Qatar. On Day 1 of the tournament, Oman’s Mohammed al Mutawaa and Omar al Ghassani lost to Jordan 0-3 while the joint team (Oman-Egypt) lost to Syria 0-3. Oman’s Hamad al Balushi and Mishaal al Shuhi were defeated by a joint team from Egypt and Thailand while their teammates Abdulrahman al Zaabi and Abdullah al Balushi lost to the Iranian team 0-3. However, the competition isn’t just about the nation vying for the title; it’s another feather in Oman’s cap for successfully hosting and organising the circuit. “Omanis will definitely benefit from this tournament. Table tennis has a bright future here, especially if they keep working hard,” says Adil al Balushi, the media coordinator of the Omani Table Tennis Committee. “After five years, we will definitely see Omani players getting medals in other tournaments, I can assure you.” Kicked off at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Wednesday (February 7) under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, Assistant Secretary-General of the Deputy Prime Minister Office for Cabinet Affairs, the tournament quickly touts itself as the largest table tennis event ever to be hosted in the country. And boy, they’re right in claiming that title. The statistics speak for itself: A total of 114 players hailing from countries such as China, India, Egypt, the Czech Republic, Greece, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Sweden, Lebanon, Scotland, Syria, Thailand, Yemen, the Philippines beside hosts Oman are participating in the tournament. “We’re very happy to start the first leg of this tournament,” says Sajjad Baqir al Lawati, tournament director, adding that the other legs of the tournament will be held in European countries over the course of the year. “We are bidding for bigger and bigger tournaments in Oman as well. It is a surprise but we can expect to see big things happening over the coming years,” he laughs. Talking about the Omani table tennis team, he elucidates: “We are in the process of developing our team. We are taking kids of six years and training them to be a part of the new team. “This will take a few years before we can become a strong team. But, we have five training centres in Oman. Starting last year, we have been working very hard to improve the team. We took the team to China and also other Arab tournaments to participate and gain experience to become better,” he adds. Organised by the Omani Table Tennis Committee in cooperation with the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation), the tournament ended on February 11. But there’s another motto behind this amazing tournament: showcasing the country to the masses. Sabco Sports, Oman’s premier sporting agency, was also a sponsor for the event. Nic Cartwright, the managing director of the company, says: “There are so many people doing good things and we want to be able to help all. This means, sports will help the industry. And these guys have done a really great job organising this tournament.” Sajjad remarks: “At the end of the day, it is the name of our country that will shine through this tournament. “Over the last three tournaments, we had over 700 players here with their families. And that is helping the tourism industry in Oman. “One of the best parts about the tournament was that the players came along with their families – and it’s a trip for them. And hopefully after it is over they will spend a few days in Oman, and that will benefit the tourism sector in the country.” ■

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A happy couple draws each other like the two ends of a magnet,” goes a saying. And we’re back at our game of seeking out the most perfectly matched husband and wife team in Oman. If you and your partner think that you’ve still got the spark, then we want to hear from you. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve just got together or have been married for 20 years. The most important thing is that you’ve got the right recipe for love and the best ingredients for an exciting life together. We will be giving the couples a chance to test their compatibility in front of an audience with a live quiz show. But to qualify for the finals, you must prove your love for your partner to us. And here’s how you can do that: Interested participants are requested to write in 50 words or less why they think that they are soulmates. Keep in mind that we are looking for the most crazy, funny, romantic answers. The short stories must be sent to us at editor@yoman.com. The last date for entry is February 18, 2018. Ten finalists chosen from the entries will answer a series of questions about their spouses to prove how well they know each other.

If you think that you know your husband or wife well, this is your chance to show them in the most romantic of ways – and win some dream prizes. In association with Golden Tulip Seeb Hotel, we’ve got some exciting prize vouchers up for grabs too. “The Valentine’s season is upon us and that means it’s time for us to begin hunting for the best matched couple with our much-awaited ‘Y’ We Are Soulmates competition. It’s a quite quirky show wherein contestants can show us how much they love each other. Mind you, it’s not easy, though. To win the competition, you’d have to have a deep understanding of your partner,” says Nishad Padiyarath, Y’s editor. We’ll publish the best entries and invite 10 couples to the exciting final. Good luck!

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Adventures

CARS AND ADVENTURES

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LEADING LIGHT

The centuries-old Nakhal Fort has been revered as the structure that looks after the underlying areas in the region.â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P33

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NAKHAL FORT

The allure of Nakhal Fort has been immortalised by the tales tourists share in their blogs. Shaquel al Balushi revisits the fort, not as an Omani but as an expatriate visitor, to explore the rooms â&#x20AC;&#x201D;open and hidden

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things easier, I simply told him that I would be shooting photos of the fort for the Y magazine. Hearing that, he immediately welcomed me and told me that I didn’t require a pass – and that he was proud to see a young Omani documenting the history of the country in a local magazine. I couldn’t help but be captivated by his enthusiasm and energy. So, it was with a smile that I headed into the labyrinth of rooms. There’s an hour’s worth of exploring within the fort, and that’s if you discount the several hidden rooms. Lost in the enchantment, I simply started clicking images of the rooms, thinking to myself how I would feel out of place in the small rooms. Do keep in mind that there were no fans or air conditioners in there, either. After a few minutes, I made it to one of the balconies wherein I witnessed the traditional canon. I clicked a few images, wondering how many bandits the gun would have taken down. It’s amazing how such a building – with so much history attached to it – stands as a hotbed for visitors in the country. But, I’ll be honest with you: Nakhal Fort has opened the door to several expats in the Sultanate to let them learn about our amazing past and appreciate and respect the cultures and philosophies of Oman. That’s why Nakhal Fort is important to our past, present and future.

HOW TO GET THERE

TRAVEL GUIDE

man isn’t a country bereft of forts and towers. It seems that our nation is home to more forts than the UAE is to tall superstructures. Nevertheless, one fort stands out among all others in Oman: Nakhal Fort. While it is true that its fame and cliché on travel websites can be owed to the several tourists who visit and document their travel in their blogs, there’s more to it than just that. It has a history that dates back to pre-Islamic times but was re-built sometime in the 17th century to provide security to traders who would take the trade routes to Nizwa and other nearby markets. Back then, this fort would have been the lifeline of several thousands of traders and their families. Today, however, it is a destination for tourists who try to soak in the culture and heritage of Oman. When I made this trip last week, I decided to act like a typical tourist and not an Omani. It was well after sunrise that I reached Nakhal, and I decided to start my day by taking breakfast at the coffee shop in the vicinity. I was surprised that they were open that early in the morning. Not so long after, I headed to the ticket counter to buy myself a ticket. There, the old man at the counter looked at me and asked me what I was planning on with my camera gear. In order to make

From Muscat, head towards Barka via the Muscat Expressway. When you reach Route 13 take the exit to Nakhal Road and continue driving until you reach the fort.

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FIRST DRIVE

CARS ADVENTURES

LINCOLN MKZ

Opulent design, awesome power, responsive handling — the traditional American luxury car is now as exotic as the German rivals. Alvin Thomas makes his point: we should take Lincoln seriously

have a bone to pick with you all. It’s about how we don’t respect the Lincolns of today. They were once considered a byword for luxury. A quick search of the ‘Lincoln’ tag on the internet will still land you in some website run by fanboys and girls who cannot get enough of their late 1970s Versailles or limited-edition early 1940s Continentals. And then you have those who worship the Town Car – a crowd favourite in car chases in Hollywood flicks of old. But the charm has died down since – and what we’re left with are a range of sedans and SUVs longing for attention…until now. Yes, it’s about time we take Lincoln seriously. And the MKZ is the embodiment of Lincoln’s strategy as they move forward in time. This, folks, isn’t your average Town Car but rather a full-fledged attempt to dethrone the BMW 540i and the Mercedes-Benz E400 – both of which are pricier than a well-specced MKZ.

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For its price, you get a lot for your buck too. Let’s start with the design: The MKZ retains its figure from 2017. So, you still get the new front-fascia complete with a hunky new chrome grille and Continental-esque edgy front headlamps. The rear, with its thin strip LED tail lamps, remains unchanged but still manages to look as cool as ever. Don’t be surprised if you find passersby clicking pictures of your car or posing with your car. Oddly, Lincoln will not chuck in the gorgeous panoramic sunroof – that covered the whole roof – from its previous iteration. It would definitely have upped the stakes a bit more. I don’t suppose there’s anything more enticing than driving around in a convertible sports sedan. So, this time around, you’ll have to make do with a small sunroof. Stepping inside the car will reveal a neatly laid-out cabin. Everything is where you’d expect it to be – except for the gear shifter. For example, the centre console houses the a/c and audio controls, and the gorgeous 10.1-inch capacitive LCD touchscreen. All the knobs are finished in chrome; it looks and feels upscale. As is the case with all Lincoln products of today, there’s no gear knob to shift gears. That’s too old school for the boffins at Lincoln. Instead, you get buttons marked –“P”, “R”, “N”, “D” and “S” – on the dashboard. This can come across as a bit perplexing initially but it shouldn’t take much time for you to settle in. My only word of advice would be to be aware that the engine “Start/Stop” button resides on top of the “P” (Park) button. The SYNC3 system is fabulous – and I was (finally) able to enjoy using the preinstalled maps which, by the way, comes with three-dimensional monuments to help you. It’s galaxies apart from its

previous versions, and the more I used it, the more I liked it. There’s a myriad of leather inside the MKZ: You’ll find it on the seats, the doors, steering wheel and even on lower portions of the cabin. Most of the centre console, however, is made of high-quality plastic, but it is embossed to give it a metallic effect. The seats provide excellent shoulder and thigh bolstering, but are still typically Lincoln and are comfortable to ride in. They’re also heated and ventilated, to help envelop you in utmost luxury. Space inside

Destination

P o s t c a r d s Fr o m

Y- F i

Gaming

CARS

Lincoln MKZ Specifications: Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 Transmission: 6-speed automatic Horsepower: 365hp (GSO-rated) Torque: 570Nm Top speed: 250 (limited) All-wheel drive LED tail lamps Sunroof Digital instrument cluster SYNC3 8-inch touch screen Side curtain airbags Ford MyKey technology Full leather upholstery Push-button start 18-inch alloy wheels Paddle shifters Adaptive cruise control Wide-angle radar sensors Auto parking Mood lighting

THIS WASN’T MY FIRST TIME DRIVING AN MKZ, AND FOR SOME REASON, IT’S ONE OF the cabin isn’t class-leading but there is THOSE AMERICAN CARS THAT WARRANTS TO BE enough space for four adults – or five DRIVEN MORE THAN if you can convince a fifth to cram his/ her legs away from the exhaust tunnel. ONCE TO BE COMPLETELY ACQUAINTED WITH. Powering the sedan is a 3.0-litre MAKE NO MISTAKE: IT’S A turbocharged ‘Ecoboost’ V6 engine MEMORABLE CAR that pumps out a GSO-rated (Gulf TO DRIVE Standard Organisation) 365hp and 570Nm of torque. It’s a low-revving engine that – along with the twin turbochargers – doles out plenty of low-end torque and enough grunt to hit the 100kph mark from a standstill in about six seconds, without any wheel spinning action. As I had mentioned before in a review: power solves everything. And it didn’t take me long to fall completely in love with the MKZ. A quick push of the throttle revealed a bounty of torque that thrusts the car forward. It could definitely do with Ford’s new 10-speed

gearbox, but the 6-speed automatic fitted in my test Lincoln was potent enough to slam me far into the seat while accelerating. This was a result of the immense grip generated by the intelligent all-wheel drive system that is coupled with the rear-axle torque-vectoring. Thanks to this, the car sticks to its original line even when pushed to its cornering limits. The ride is very smooth and a bit floaty at times but the suspension adapts quite well. You could come across a tiny bit of understeer depending on the type of road surface and the grip from the tyres. But the torque-vectoring system rectifies it

in a jiffy to bring your car back into the corner. Still, during normal driving, the gears are kept high to aid fuel economy. But, kick downs are quick and there’s no jerking from the clutch when it couples with the gears when crawling. There’s a manual mode for those looking for an engaging drive, though it’s not as responsive to the user’s inputs as you’d expect, especially during downshifts. Automatic mode is where the MKZ belongs. The steering is light, as is the norm with most Ford and Lincoln products, but it’s still well-weighted during highspeed driving. The brakes, on the other hand, are strong and linear in force distribution. This wasn’t my first time driving an MKZ, and for some reason, it’s one of those American cars that warrants to be driven more than once to be completely acquainted with. Make no mistake: It’s a memorable car to drive. But no matter what I say, there’s no other way to experience the MKZ than to drive it. It will almost certainly bowl you over every time you get behind the wheel. It’s a car with a strong character – and that’s what makes this a valuable purchase when compared to some of its overly mechanical competitors from Germany and even Japan.

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CARS ADVENTURES BEAUTIFUL BALI

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot to like about Bali. Its gorgeous national parks, insightful art museums and galore of shopping options is what gives this province an edge over other Indonesian cities.

1. Interact with the monkeys in the Ubud Monkey Forest 2. Learn about ancient Hindu art at the Neka Art Museum 3. Picnic with your mates in Komodo National Park 4) Visit one of the 10,000 temples in the province 5) Try to spot rare birds in Bali Bird Park

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Destination

Cars

Y-Fi

Gaming

POSTCARDS FROM

Alvin Thomas recommends

BALI, INDONESIA

hen you think of an exotic vacation, your mind immediately wanders into countries like France, Italy, Norway or, in some cases, even the US. It’s not every day that someone wanting to travel looks at a map and says: “Oh yeah, I’ll head to Bali.” But when they do, they’ll be in for the treat of their lives - and that’s what makes this a little gem in Asia. Situated just off the coast of mainland Indonesia, which includes the capital city of Jakarta and so on, Bali is one of the many islands in the Indian Ocean that make up this country. Nevertheless, it harbours some of the world’s greatest mysteries that baffle geologists even today, like the Mount Agung, Lake Tamblingan and Mount Batur. And more importantly, tourist attractions like the Ubud Monkey Forest and the Dream Museum Zone Bali stand as some of the province’s key hubs for tourism. Still, nothing - and by nothing, I mean absolutely nothing - beats the cleansing aura of Bali after a session of meditation. It’s uncanny and cannot be replicated. The Tanah Lot, for instance, is one Hindu pilgrimage spot that garners tourists from around the world. It’s built on a rock that is being shaped by the sea even as you read this. Another area that you must visit if you’re in the neighbourhood is the Shaivite temple of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. It’s what the locals call a ‘Water Temple’ and was built in 1633 to offer ceremony to the Balinese water, lake and river goddess Dewi Danu. If you’re not interested in meditation, however, you can swim with the fishes at the Komodo National Park or ogle at the art pieces in the Neka Art Museum. In short, there’s something for everyone at Bali. But the best part about visiting Bali is that it’s incredibly cheap. Heck, you can even indulge in shopping, as you can buy two pairs of original Levi’s jeans for RO20, which is half of what you’d normally spend in Oman.

UBUD M ONKEY

FORES

PARK B A L I B IR D

My favourite place

As a Lonely Planet writer wrote, “Shopping in Bali is legendary”. Visitors have much to choose from and there are several markets, which are only a short drive away. I’m not just talking about clothes. You can purchase art works, designer bags, handicrafts and so on from the galore of shopping centres and street vendors. Needless to say, this was my favourite spot during my short stay.

Highlights

Bali’s greatest success is its tourism industry; it makes up more than 80 per cent of the province’s economy. Most tourists who head there try to soak in the history. It is widely believed that the area was dwelt as early as 2000 BC. Nevertheless, the temples in the vicinity are known to be over 500 years old (!) The deep religious roots have also given birth to some phenomenal artists who showcase their works in the museums. What’s even better is that you’ll find the climate in Bali suited to your taste, as temperatures usually hover around the 20°C mark.

Lowlights No land is a paradise and Bali is no exception. Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: Currently, there are 11 active volcanoes in Bali making it a volatile place for residence. There’s also no surprise that the province is religiously intolerant, which will come as a culture shock for anyone travelling from the West.

Souvenirs Bali is the perfect place to splurge money. You’d only require RO100 or so for a tour of Bali, accommodation and shopping. A personal favourite of mine is the stone sculptures and wood engravings, which only costs a paltry RO2 per piece. Getting there RO175.

Where to stay

You can take an Oman Air flight from Muscat to Bali Denpasar in Indonesia for an average of

There are several four- and five-star hotels and resorts in the province – and it will only cost you between RO6 to RO70 to book the hotel for a night. On another note: You must try out the Tejaprana Resort & Spa, which was given the ‘Travellers Choice Award 2018’ by TripAdvisor. It will only set you back RO65 for a night’s stay.

PURA

BERA

TAN TE MPL

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-FI THE TECH IN YOU

SUNNY SIDE UP Travelling long distances on a flight can get quite boring – and it’s even worse if you’re flying out with a budget airline. Some airlines do not even offer USB charging ports for travellers to charge their phones. That’s why you need the GreenLighting Solar Phone Charger – a device that can fit onto the window of your flight (or any other window) to charge your phone. It picks up juice from sunlight using its 0.4 watt solar panels to recharge an internal battery that can then transfer the power to your phone. Buy it from amazon.com for RO16.55

Destination

Cars

Gaming

Y-FI

FAN-TASCTIC

A fan you could plug into the laptop and enjoy exclusive comfort, artificial clouds for the coffee table, a solar phone charger and a welcome roll back to the good old Nokia charm... Alvin Thomas rolls out some cool choices

NO SWEAT Don’t you just hate it when you’re feeling hot at work and your colleague – who has the tolerance of a three-year-old – decides to switch the a/c off? If that’s the case, then you need the NYKKOLA USB LED Fan Clock with you at work. It’s a fan that plugs straight into your laptop to help cool you down, and additionally, it shows you the time as well. This means you don't have to reach out for your smartphone or your watch to look at the time. The device is also flexible, meaning you won’t be bothering your colleague with your fresh air. Talk about striking two birds with one stone, eh? Get yours from amazon.com for RO4.6

ON AIR This is a cloud lamp… literally. And we’ve deduced that it may very well be the coolest lamp you can have in your house. The Floating Cloud, with its magnetically levitating ambient cloud, can illuminate your room, but in different colours depending on the sounds in the room. The device has built-in speakers to achieve its ambience and is made to resemble a cumulonimbus cloud. The cloud has been crafted using a hypoallergenic polyester fibre and it holds a lithium ion 6600 mAh battery inside. It’ll be a great conversation starter, too: “Hey, have you seen my cloud?” you can ask. But, in the end, it’s a must-have because it’s a mini thunderstorm on your table. Get your cloud from richardclarkson.com for RO1,778

BLAST FROM THE PAST

EDITOR’S PICK

SIMPLE AND ELEGANT YET QUIRKY: THAT’S WHAT THE NOKIA 3310 CLASSIC IS ALL ABOUT. AT A TIME WHEN SMARTPHONES ARE GAINING REAL ESTATE (SCREEN, BODY, ETC.), THIS IS A WELCOME ROLL BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN PHONES WERE ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION. SURE, THERE ARE SOME CHANGES; FOR INSTANCE, YOU GET A COLOURFUL SCREEN AND A SMALL 2-MEGAPIXEL CAMERA WITH FLASH. STILL, WITH BATTERY LIFE PEGGED AT ONE MONTH (!) AND THE ADDITION OF A HEADPHONE JACK FOR LISTENING TO MUSIC, IT WILL DEFINITELY BE FIT FOR DAILY USE. OH, AND THE BEST PART IS THAT THE ‘SNAKE’ GAME COMES PRELOADED. YOU CAN BUY THIS FOR RO19.6 FROM ALL LEADING ELECTRONIC STORES

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Info Box

Developer and designer: JASON ROBERTS

Engin:

UNITY

Publisher:

ANNAPURNA INTERACTIVE

Platform:

ANDROID, IOS, NINTENDO SWITCH, MICROSOFT WINDOWS

Incredibly slow and boringly sombre, but as you unlock the mystery, you will be staring at a word-less world startlingly familiar: of war, peace and rebuilding. Alvin Thomas tries to figure out the big picture

he concept of reality is one that varies from person to person. What one sees is what they perceive. So, the inception of a game that undeniably alters reality – and adds an artistic touch to the end product – is a risky affair. Somehow, Gorogoa takes that concept and shapes it into a product that is not only alluring to the masses but also very indulging in gameplay. It’s a puzzle, mind you, so hardcore action fanatics can stay away from this title. But it’s the intricacy of the puzzle – the designs, the artworks and the storyline – that gives this game its legs. It’s also far from your traditional puzzle-based games, in the sense that it’s incredibly slow. You’ll find yourself reasoning with logic to make your moves – and it only gets harder. There are no guides to narrate your way forward: the game contains no language and it’s up to you to figure out how to finish each level. The gameplay flow along these lines, though: Players are presented with four images in a ‘grid’ and ‘must stack’, ‘combine’, and ‘explore’ each image to find a connection between them in order to advance and open new areas. The plot involves a boy seeking an encounter with a divine monster, exploring themes of spirituality and religion. Truly thought-provoking. The scenes in the game follow periods of time in the 20th century, including peace, war, and rebuilding. The game should last you a few days, and initial reviews are great. Gamespot rated Gorogoa at 8 out of 10 stars – so it can’t be all that bad. Nevertheless, 25 minutes into the game, I gave up. Three out of five stars in my books. JULY FEB0315 -- 09 21 / ISSUE 507 327

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

AT EASE

Who says that fashionable clothes have to be uneasy to wear? Check out our top picks showcasing the latest trends in the industry that you can don in style â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and without breaking a sweat.

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Health

Beauty

FASHION

k o o L e h

, or h e c i it ho ct c airs it w e f r a pe ri Das p style s i d An indispensable accessory in your wardrobe. Pair in th n an . Gaya round this double moulded metal buckle with any of your w o a s s t n i e suits for that complete stylish look. The metal and o f o i o as to tipt m c r black finish gives you the contrast. Blend it with a c a o s ch t all o t black, grey or red outfit for that exceptional look. t a as lmos of stile h Available at Zara for RO11 t i a u r ir s o a p f p , Jum native and a r alte lt, bag a be

T t Ge

You will crave this comfortable black jumpsuit round the year. The lapel collar and the front zip give it a fashionable look, while the buttoned cuffs, side pockets and the flap open pockets in the front convey a classy touch. The scarf tie on your hair with this outfit will embellish the look. Get it from ZARA for RO34

Tiptoe around in this pair of stylish high-heeled leather stilettos. A formal-cum-casual wear that comes in all colours, you could go tall with this 8cm/3.1 pair of stilettos. The 100 per cent goat leather will pamper your legs. A must-have for office. Buy it for RO22 from Zara

The perfect Valentine bag for this Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s week and beyond. This crossbody bag with a criss-cross weave gives you a sophisticated look. The chained shoulder strap helps you carry this effortlessly. Buy it for RO18 from Zara

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HEALTH& BEAUTY

Health

BEAUTY

SAY IT WITH

SCENT

Fashion

Home

Family

with 63 per cent standing by this statement. The survey also found that perfume plays a significant part in boosting self-confidence, with 78 per cent of the respondents stating that perfume made them feel more selfassured and happy. So to speak, investing in a great scent could be the key to finding confidence when it comes to new romance – at least that’s what Rasasi says. This was further asserted when married couples chimed in that fragrance plays an important role in their relationship, with two-thirds ove is in the air – literally – as we revel in the Valentine’s week. (63 per cent) stating that they often wear perfumes that their spouses like. The long-awaited day of love is over, but that doesn’t translate “Our sense of smell is one of the keenest senses, and it affects our to you loving your partner any less. And there’s no better way world in ways people perhaps don’t expect. From affecting the way to impress your better halves than surprising them with their our food tastes to triggering special memories or playing a key role in favourite perfume. our moods and even attracting the perfect partner, fragrance plays an After all, fragrance has long been linked with how people share important role in our everyday lives,” says a spokesperson of their emotions and feelings with one another. And if you thought that the notion Rasasi Perfumes. was losing its legs, then think again, because a staggering 52 per cent of people “Key fragrances associated with romance include vanilla, sandalwood, in Oman associate perfumes and fragrance with love and romance, according rose, jasmine, neroli, patchouli, vetiver and ylang-ylang. Perfumes such to a study. as our best-selling Junoon Satin & Leather from this series of niche The study conducted on YouGov was undertaken by Rasasi, one of the fragrances and the cult classic La Yuqawam series, Hawas & Attar Al nation’s prominent perfume houses. Mohabba are perfect for creating a romantic mood.” As per the study, almost half of the women (48 per cent) and men (55 per With a four-decade legacy of blending the finest scents that celebrate cent) believed that scent is a key to romance, with 45 per cent of Omanis the rich tapestry of the Middle East and GCC, Rasasi prides itself on agreeing that they associate perfume and fragrance with feelings of love. having an unrivalled knowledge of the finest traditions of perfumery and Surprisingly, the association was strongest among people aged 35 and above, art of fragrances.

The day may be over, but the spirit should live on. Nothing whips up the scent of romance like the real fragrance: the one your better half would love to wear

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CHECKLIST TO

Cheer up

Depression could be deadly if left untreated. Alvin Thomas draws up a checklist of things that could be mixed with the medicines for better results

epression can be a silent killer. Its symptoms are often ignored by those suffering and can prove to be deadly in the long run. As per the recent findings of the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 300 million people suffer from depression currently – and the numbers are only rising. In layman’s terms, the illness is defined as feelings of severe despondency and dejection that do not dissipate over a period of time. While this can adversely affect your social life, it can also take a turn for the worse if untreated. A study conducted by JAMA Psychiatry published data from more than 200 international studies that took place over the span of several decades. It found – rather worryingly – that those with depression were twice as likely to die in the next 10 years than those without it. Also, the risk of passing away from health conditions such as a heart attack rose by 80 percent in patients with a

mental illness. Some of the leading personalities who suffered from this mental illness included actor Robin Williams, singer Kurt Cobain from Nirvana and Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington. All of them committed suicide. Last week, I highlighted some of the ways we can understand and work to begin treating depression. But there’s more to it than just visiting a doctor or taking medication – and it isn’t a one-step process. Radical changes in your lifestyle have to be made in order to fight the mental illness. According to the helpguide.org, a website that focuses on providing health tips, one must start healing from within by taking some steps. They include: Exercise. Regular exercise can be as effective at treating depression as medication. Not only does exercise boost serotonin, endorphins, and other feel-good brain chemicals, it triggers the growth of new brain cells and connections as well, just like antidepressants do. Social support. Strong social networks reduce isolation, a key risk factor for depression. Keep in regular contact

with friends and family, or consider joining a class or group. You could also try volunteering with social groups. Nutrition. Eating well is important for both your physical and mental health. Eating small, well-balanced meals throughout the day will help you keep your energy up and minimise mood swings. While you may be drawn to sugary foods for the quick boost they provide, complex carbohydrates are a better choice. Get enough sleep. Sleep has a strong effect on one’s mood. When you don't get enough sleep, the symptoms of depression will be worse. Sleep deprivation exacerbates irritability, moodiness, sadness, and fatigue. So, aim for somewhere between seven to nine hours each night. Stress reduction. Make changes in your life to help manage and reduce stress. I know that it’s easier said than done but too much stress aggravates depression and puts you at further risk. Take the aspects of your life that stress you out, such as work overload or unsupportive relationships, and find ways to minimise their impact. FEB 15 - 21 / ISSUE 507

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FOOD DRINK

Trend

New Restaurant

Reviews

JUICY FRUITS

The juiciest fuit in the world can also be a great addition to your supper. Check out our top recipe of the season.

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MELON Magic Exquisite taste, year-round availability and a great complement to other flavours… that’s watermelon. Try out how the sweet touch balances the savoury side of this traditional buddha bowl

hen it comes to fresh fruit, watermelon is a top pick in many households. It’s available year-round and around all grocery stores here in the Sultanate, and makes for a nutritious snack. But its great taste is the reason most people buy it, according to research by the National Watermelon Promotion Board in the US. Not only is watermelon a tasty snack by itself — it complements other flavours too, making it easy to create flavourful pairings. A sweet take on pizza combining watermelon with a host of other good-for-you ingredients for a delicious treat is healthy enough for breakfast and sweet enough for dessert. The watermelon fruit pizza can make its way into your weekly meal rotation. For another nutritious option, however, consider this buddha bowl featuring watermelon, which contains higher levels of lycopene, an antioxidant, than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. Watermelon is also an excellent source of vitamin C, and it provides vitamin B6 and potassium. It’s the perfect sweet addition to balance the savoury flavours of this traditional plant-based buddha bowl. This recipe should leave plenty of room for personalisation; experiment with your favourite flavours to make each dish your own. Also remember that watermelon travels well, so these recipes make for ideal take-along snacks when you’re on the go. Find more fresh, fruity recipes to enjoy any time of year at watermelon.org.

Watermelon Buddha Bowl Ingredients: Citrusy Tahini Dressing: § 3 tbsp tahini (ground sesame seed paste) § 1/3 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice § 1/4 cup rice vinegar § 1 tsp soy sauce § 1 tsp freshly grated ginger § 1/2 tsp salt Buddha Bowls: § 2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed § 4 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced § 1 cup sweet cherries, pitted and halved

§ 2 avocados, sliced § 2 cups cooked black rice § 1 cup sliced, toasted almonds § Citrusy Tahini Dressing Method: § To make Citrusy Tahini Dressing: In a bowl, whisk tahini, orange juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger and salt. If dressing seems thick, add more orange juice or water to reach desired consistency. § To arrange buddha bowls: Separate watermelon, cucumbers, cherries, avocados and rice in four bowls. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and drizzle with dressing. Serve immediately.

Source: Family Features FEB 15 - 21 / ISSUE 507

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FOOD DRINK

Tr e n d

Mid et k Mar

New Restaurant

REVIEWS

Info Box

THE JUNGLE RESTAURANT

Adjacent to Marah Land, Al Qurum, Muscat Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm Contact: 9569 0658

THE JUNGLE RESTAURANT

Verdict : 9/10 SERVICE 9.5/10 FOOD 8.5/10 AMBIENCE Exquisite food and equally competent service. Y Magazine reviews anonymously and pays for its meals

A FAIRYTALE WALKTHROUGH SETS YOU UP FOR A VOYAGE TO THE UNKNOWN. AN INCREDIBLE GASTRONOMIC JOURNEY THAT UNRAVELS NEVER-BEFORE SPLENDOURS BEGINS SOON. ALVIN THOMAS CHEWS OVER ‘THIS-IS-IT!’ MOMENTS

here’s a saying that goes: “Looks can be deceiving.” But, The Jungle Restaurant – despite its extravagantly decorated interiors and equally impressive welcoming jungle – doesn’t fall into that category. Sure, upon entry, you’ll most certainly see yourself reaching for your phone to take photos and videos. It’s the aura of walking into the amazon rainforest: Upon entering the door, you’re greeted by a roaring tiger (just look to your left), tall trees and even waterfalls. Albeit, nothing about this jungle is embryonic. There are lights on the floor that will guide you through to the restaurant, and you’ll be escorted by the waiters to your table. Sitting down, I immediately asked for the new set menu that has been causing waves between those who have tried it already. My friend claimed it to be “the best set menu in Oman”, but I presumed it to be a tall claim. Upon request, the waitress – Annabelle and Rozario – served me a glass of sparkling water in a wine glass. Following that, I was presented with the appetiser: Hunters Satay – which is a traditional Indonesian dish with marinated chicken garnished with nasi goreng and peanut sambal. Served to me in a bamboo plate and leaves, it was a great start to my early supper. The chicken (served on the skewer) was tender and the flavours were enticing. Oddly, I also took a special consideration for the peanut sambal – and

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IN ALL, IT WAS THE BEST TASTE TEST THAT I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED DURING MY TIME AT Y. THAT’S A TALL AND BOLD CLAIM – BUT I STAND BY IT – AND YOU MUST GIVE IT A SHOT. IT’S WORTH EVERY PENNY

that would’ve been highly ironic. There’s no way I could have finished them all, so I took one of each. The chicken and the lamb chops were definitely my favourite. The chicken, again, was soft and succulent, while the lamb chops were well done, but gentle enough to be cut with the steak knife. I also took a shying to the kidney, liver, beef burger and the accompanying mushroom sauce. Now, let’s shine light on the item on the menu that captivated me the most: The Tiram – I – Miss – You (Tiramisu). The Jungle special coffeeflavoured mascarpone cheese pudding was simply superb. Simple words cannot describe the sheer taste and texture of the pudding. It was the best tiramisu I had ever golloped. Upon placing a spoonful of the pudding in your mouth, you’re first treated to the strong yet discernible flavour of coffee before the cream cheese takes over to cool your taste buds down. The biscuit layer in the middle was soft and juicy – and it all added to the allure of what had to be the perfect ending to a faultless dinner. Before leaving, I even made sure to commend the efforts of the chef. In all, it was the best Taste Test that I had ever experienced during my time at Y. That’s a tall and bold claim – but I stand by it – and you must give it a shot. It’s worth every penny.

it went very well with the chicken. To cleanse the palate, I then headed to the bar for a plate of salad (which was also a part of the set menu). It’s what you would expect from a high-end restaurant; everything from carrots and cucumbers to chick peas and salad dressings were available. Following that, the waiter brought me my Forest Do you have a favourite restaurant that you’d like to see Mushrooms soup. Principally, it’s what I would call reviewed? Let Y know at editor@y-oman.com a creamy wild mushroom soup, but I must point out that it was the best soup I had ever tasted in Oman. The consistency of the soup – even though it is inherently thick – was creamy and velvety, and the scent of mushroom was down to a minimum. Next was the main course, which was undoubtedly the star of the evening. Dubbed the ‘Kilimanjaro’, it was a platter of grills served on a smoking hot metal grill on top of flaming charcoal. It consisted of two patties of Angus beef burger, lamb chops, marinated chicken drumsticks, livers, kidneys, and Australian beef medallions. They should’ve named it the Noah’s Ark, although

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